Apparatus for the measurement of the level and flow of liquids



June 11, 1929. I SHQTTER 1,716.839

AI PARATUS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF THE LEVEL AND FLOW OF LIQUIDS OriginalFiled July 22, 1925 Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FREDERICK SHOTTER, OF NEW SOUTHGATE, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF THE LEVEL AND FLOW OF LIQUIDS.

Original application filed July 22, 1925, Serial No. 45,348, and inGreat Britain September 23, 1924.

Divided and this application filed March 30, 1927.

This invention relatesto apparatus for the measurement of the level andflow of liquids and it has for its object improvements by which certainadvantages shall be obtained. In the specification of prior BritishLetters Patent N 0. 17,044 of 1911, granted to the applicant herein,apparatus is described for the electrical measurement of the level orflow of a liquid comprising a main or level-measuring pair of electrodesat a fixed distance apart so immersed in the liquid that the resistancebetween them changes when the level changes within the limits to beobserved, incombination with it compensating pair of electrodes immersedto a constant degree in the liquid or in liquid of similar polarizingproperties, an electrical generator and a resistance indicator which hasacontrol-producing circuit and a circuit to provide a deflecting force,the parts being so connected that the generator, the control-producingcircuit and the compensating electrodes are in one closed circuit andthe generator, the circuit to provide deflecting force and the mainelectrodes are in a second closed circuit.

The present invention relates to apparatus of the kind described aboveand more particularly to the construction and arrangement of thecompensating electrodes.

In the specification of application Serial No. 45,348 filed 22nd July,1925, from which the present application has been divided, there isdescribed a. construction of electrodes in which said electrodes aremounted on or in a tubular member of insulating material, such as glazedearthenware, of triangular, circular or other section.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing wherein Fig. 1 shows an elevation in section of one form ofcompensating electrodes according to the present invention; and

Fig. 2 shows a plan thereof.

A pair of circular members 41, 42 of insulating material, such as glazedearthenware, are arranged face to face, but spaced apart. The member 42has a central hole 43 and a tubular portion 44 extending from its outerface and surrounding said hole. The adjacent faces of the circularmembers 41, 42 have shoulders 45, 46. At several points, for example,three, the member 41 is engaged by two part clamps 47 which are carriedSerial No. 179,696.

from a ring 48 by rods 49, whose position in relation to the ring can bevaried by means of nuts 50. Similarly the member 42 is engaged at anumber of places, for example, three, by two part clamps 51 which arecarried from the ring 48 by rods 52 which can be adjusted in relation tothe ring 48 by nuts. The ring 48 is carried from a support above thecontainer for the liquid with which the instrument is to be used by rods53 by means of which its position in the liquid can be varied. Byvarying the position of the rods 49 and 52 the distance at which themembers 41 and 42 are spaced may be controlled. One electrode comprisesmetal gauze, for example of nickel-plated copper, arranged round theedges of the circular members 41, 42. The gauze is preferably in threeparts 54 each having round its edge a stiff wire 55 to which it issoldered. The ends of the wires, not shown, are bent outwards to engageholes in small plates of insulating material carried on the two partclamps 47. At the centre there is soldered to each part a terminalmember 56 which projects upwardly beyond the circular member 42 and hasa bifurcated end 57. A metal rod or bar 58 is secured to a metal ring 59surrounding the lower part of the tubular member 44. At the outer end ofthe bar 58 is pivotally mounted an extension 60 which is arranged toengage, and be secured by a screw 63 to the bifurcated end 57 of theterminal member 56.

Three such rods 58 extend from the rings 59 each to be connected to oneof the gauze parts. The rods 58 and the terminal members 56 constitutefurther clamping means for the several parts of the electrode.

An electrical connection 62 is taken from the ring 59 to a terminal 63mounted on the ring 48.

The other electrode is introduced through the tubular portion 44 intothe centre of the space between the members 41, 42. It also consists ofmetal gauze 64, for example, platinized copper, mounted on a groovedcylindrical member 65 of insulating material. The cylindrical member 65is supported in a depression 66 in the circular member 41, a V-shapedprojection 67 on its end face engaging a V-shaped depression to positionit. At the other end the cylindrical member 65 is mounted on a rod 68 ofinsulating material which is connected at thetop to a 'metal rod 69which passes through an insulator 70 to a terminal 71. The rod 68 isheld in position by a plate 72 of insulating material which engages atits edge'with a block 73 secured by a screw 74: in the. wall of thetubular member 44. Electrical connection is made to the terminal 71 fromthe gauze (34 by a wire or red 75 soldered to the gauze and secured. tothe metal rod 69. r

By varying the distance betweenthe circular members 41, 42 the height ofthe electrolyte between the electrodes may be varied In use thecompensating pair of electrodes are supported in, such a way that theyare always completely immersed.

The form of standard path or compensating electrodes illustrated ispreferably used in connection with low conductivity liquids.

The electrod strueted of wire gauze, but it will be under-.

. stood. thatthey may, if'desirech be formed of wire, preferablyplatinum or platinized wire ywound on frames of insulating material.

Further the gauze may be of other i'netal' tl pia zed copper such forexample as nickel or ferro-nickel, though platinum or.

platinized metal is preferred.

The well known system of guard wiring may be applied for the purpose'ofpreventing the measurement of leakage currents.

hat. I claim is 1. For apparatus of. the kind described fortheelectrical measurement of the level of a liquid a compensa ingpair ofelectrodes to be completely immersed in liquid com- Jrisirr a )air of on)osed circular members of insulatingv material spaced a fixed distanceapart one having-a central hole and a tubular portion extending from itsouter face surrounding sald hole, an electrode eX- tending around andbetween said .members and carried peripherally thereon and a secondelectrode disposed in the space between said members which is insertedthrough the 'tubularportion and central hole.

2. For apparatus of the kind described for the electrical measurement ofthe level of a liquid a compensating pair of electrodes 7 facesurrounding said hole, an electrode extending around and between saidmem- 'es have been described as con-:

Y trode formed be s and carried peripherally thereon and a secondelectrode of wire carried on a grooved cylindrical member disposedbetween said members which is inserted through the tubular portion andcentral hole.

3.'For apparatus or, thekind described for the electrical measurementofthe level of a liquid a compensatingpair of electrodes to be completelyimmersed in liquid comprising a pair of opposed circular members ofinsulating material'spaced a fixed distance apart an electrode formed ina plurality of parts extending around and between said members andcarried peripherally thereon and a second electrode of wire carried on agrooved cylindrical menu ber disposed in the space between said members.Y v

4:. For apparatus of the kind described for the electrical. measurementof the level of a liquida compensating pair of electrodes to becompletely immersed in liquid comprising a pair opposed circular membersof insulating material spaced a fixed distance apart. one of saidcircular members having a depression on its inner face an electrodeformed in a plurality of parts extending around and between said membersand carried peripherally thereon a. e initial member secured to eachpart and a second electrode of wire carried on a grooved cylindricalmember disposed in the space be tween said members. i

5. For apparatus of the kind described for the electrical measurement ofthe level of a liquid a compensating pair of electrodes to be completelyiininersed in liquid comp sing av pair of opposed circular membersofinsulating material spaced a fixed distance apart one having a centralhole and a tubular portion extending from its outer face surroundingsaid hole, the other having a depression on its inner-face, an elec in aplurality of parts extending around and between said members and.carried peripherally thereon, a termi-.-

nal niembersecured to each part a second electrode of wirecarried-en agrooved cylindrical member disposed in the space between said memberswhich is inserted through the tubular portion and central hole andpositioning means on the cylin;

drical member to engage the depression 111 the circular member.

Dated this 4th day of ldarch, 1927.

GEORGE FREDERICK SHUTTER.

